Robert -

I was searching for a legendary twenty-five foot albino named Spot, who is said to have found his was way back here from New York through the Intercoastal Sewer System - driven, it seems, by a variant of the homing instinct that makes it possible for John Beaton to write so many poems about salmon. I thought Spot could have been a big hit at West Chester. But it turns out they are a protected species (alligators, that is, not environmental-formalist poets - John remains fair game). So I guess I'll see what I can find at the airport.

Michael

Hello all,

I am new to this site, and I'm finding this discussion fascinating. This is exactly why I am searching for a different forum. I've actaully been rather impressed with the depth of critiques here, as opposed to my hopefully-soon-to-be former venue www.fanstory.com If you would like to see what other people on other sites consider to be helpful feedback, please go and visit. Read some of the "reviews." You'll see my point immediately.

That said, I do think that every SPECIFIC and THOUGHTFUL crit has value, even if it is negative. Simply stating "I don't like this" is pointless. To me, it follows that reading and responding to other's crits is a valuable way for me, as a reader, to clarify my own thoughts about a piece. Obviously, personal attacks should be left out, but if I see a crit that says "the word perhaps should be left out of S1L4" then I'll pay more attention to that spot and if I see a reason to agree or disagree, I can include that.

Since I have no intention of having just one or two websites as my permanent audience, I believe that even a slightly less informed reader has something valuable to say. That lets us know how our work might be recieved by the general public, instead of a small community of poets. So far, I've found the level of expertise here, both in the poetry and the critiques, intimidating, and I can only hope that my own opinions are considered valid and my own suggestions helpful. Which means that I would prefer not to be attacked for something I express in a critique, if I have missed something in a poem, or saw something that others didn't, or some other faux pas, I would certainly want to know about it so that I might be more careful next time.

Sometimes I wish I had Bob Mezey's credentials so I could tell another critiquer he doesn't know what he's talking about. Some critters are so stupid and/or ignorant, and obtrusive withal, that to pass over their remarks without comment risks seeming to consent by silence to what they have written. Just stating a contrary opinion is not very satisfying in such cases. Maybe Eratosphere needs a stupidity/ignorance meter as well as the current ad hom meter, or jerk meter or whatever it is that occasionally gets someone banned.

G/W

Figured I'd quote myself. I don't think this site is teeming with stupid people, and I really don't think it's appropriate to be calling someone stupid simply because they don't agree with the opinion of a venerable master of the art.

POST EDIT: I shouldn't generalize. I have seen plenty of well-reasoned critiques by well-respected & talented folks. Those times where no reason was given for the "jeez, you're an idiot" kind of remark just seem to loom large in my memory.

-eaf


[This message has been edited by eaf (edited June 09, 2004).]